Cigarette case or the like



Nov. 24, 1942.

E. K. BLUDWQRTH CIGARETTE CASE OR THE LIKE Filed Nov. 28, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet l I ('1, 21F. Ji l I Attorney Nov. 24, 1942. BLUDWQRTH2,302,739

CIGARETTE CASE OR THE LIKE Filed Nov. 28, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 InventorAttorney Patented Nov. 24, 1942 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in cigarette cases and the like,and the primary object of my invention is to provide a container of thistype in which movements in opposite directions of a component part ofthe container operate to expose and enclose, respectively, the contentsthrough manipulation by the fingers while the case is held in one hand.

Another important object of my invention is to provide an arrangement ofthe character indicated which can be made light in weight and compactwithout sacrifice of efficiency or mechanical excellence, and which isnot substantially larger than the average pack of cigarettes which it isdesired to accommodate.

Other important objects and advantages of my invention will be apparentfrom a reading of the following description in connection with theappended drawings, wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown apreferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a general front elevational View showing the case in aclosed position.

Figure 2 is a right hand side elevational view of of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a the case i open position.

Figure 4 is a right hand side elevational view Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a general transverse vertical sectional view taken throughFigure 1. I

Figure 6 is a general transverse vertical sectional view taken throughFigure 3.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse vertical sectional viewtaken through the upper part of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a general transverse vertical sectional view taken throughFigure 6.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the slide with the spring closed topshown in an open position. 1 Referring in detail to the drawings, thenumeral 5 generally designates the case which in this instance is of asize and shape to conformably accommodate a conventional package oftwenty cigarettes (not shown). The case comprises the casing 6 which isof the general rectangular cross sectional shape of a cigarette packagebut slightly larger, the casing being made up of the bottom '5 from therear edge of which rises the back wall 8 which is somewhat taller thanthe said cigarette package, and the end walls 9 and I0 which projectforwardly from the side edges of the rear wall 8 and join the end edgesof the bottom 1; and the abbreviated front wall ll whose frontelevational view showing side edges join the front edges of the endwalls 9 and I0 and whose bottom edge joins the front edge of the bottomwall l.- The main portion of the front wall H rises slightly above themiddle height of the casing and its upper edge I2 is downwardly curvedas indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings not only to faciliatte entry ofthe cigarette package but to accommodate the movement of the button 13which is engaged by the I finger of the operator to operate the slidewhich is generally designated Hi. The side or end walls 9 and IE8 of thecasing are cut down in a declining and forward direction as indicated inFigures 2 and 4 of the drawings at IE to join the upper edge H2 at itselevated side portions it. The upper edge ll of the rear wall 8 isprovided adjacent its left hand end with a forwardly projecting lug [8to limit the upward movement of the slide l4 in a manner to be pointedout.

The slide M is in the form of a box conformably slidable against theinterior walls of the casing 6, the box being open at its top asindicated by the numeral 20 and open at its bottom as indicated by thenumeral 2|. The rear wall 22 of the slide is open for a major portion ofits width from the point 23 downwardly. The upper edge of the back wall22 of the slide has a hinge arrangement 24 thereon swingably connectingthereto the top 25 which is normally urged toward a closed position bythe spring arrangement 28 incorporated in the hinge device. The button13 already mentioned is secured to project from the upper part of thefront wall of the slide. The slide l4 directly receives the cigarettepackage (not shown), the bottom of the cigarette package seating on thebottom wall I of the casing 6 and the slide I4 being adapted to moverelative to the package to expose the same for access to the cigarettestherein.

Secured by a rivet or the like 21 located at the lower middle part ofthe back wall 8 of the casing 6 is the guide plate 28 which has a lowerportion 2% below the fastener 21 directly and immediately engaging thefront of the back wall 8, and an upper part 30 which is slightlyforwardly spaced from the said back wall and terminates at its upper endin a rounded forwardly directed short bend 3| on a level with the upperedge of the casing, as indicated in Figures 5 and 7. The side edges ofthe guide plate 28 are substantially spaced from the side walls 9 andll] of the casing as indicated in Figure 8 of the drawings.

The slide 14 is placed telescopically within the casing 6 so that theupper rear wall portion whose lower edge is designated by the numeral 23lies between the back wall 8 of the casing and the portion 3!) of theguide plate 28 so as to be slidable from a low point in which the loweredge 2| of the side engages the bottom I of the casing, to an upperlimit in which the upper edge 32 engages the stop lug 3| of the rearWall 8 of thecasing, as indicated in Figure '7.

By means of this arrangement, the parts being in the positions shown inFigures 5 and '7, downi ward pressure on the button l3 will slide theslide M downwardly toward the position shown in Figure 6. In executingthis movement the rear wall 22 of the slide passes between the rear wallof the casing and the portion 30 of the guide plate 28 from the elevatedposition shown in Figure 5 to the depressed position shown in Figure 6.In executing this movement the swingable top 25 is opened by cammingover the overturned edge 3| at the upper edge of the guide plate 28 andis thereby tilted into a vertical position in which it subsides betweenthe back of the casing and the guide plate 28. In the same movement thebody of the slide passes downwardly to the position shown in Figure 6wherein the ends and the front of the cigarette package (not shown) areexposed.

When it is desired to close the case the button 13 is pushed upwardly,thereby moving the slide I4 upwardly around the cigarette package untilthe upper edge 32 strikes the stop lug H3. In this movement the cover 25emerges from between the back plate of the casing and the guide plateand its spring arrangement 26 tilts it forwardly in conformance with thecurvature of the edge 3! until the cover reaches the closed positionshown in Figures 5 and 7, in which the cigarette package and itscigarettes are entirely enclosed and protected.

Although I have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not wish to limitthe application of the invention thereto, except as may be required bythe scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A cigarette case for a package of cigarettes comprising a casinghaving an open end, and a back wall, a guide plate fixed on the innerface of said back wall and having a section spaced forwardly of saidWall to provide therewith a guideway open at said end of the casing, anopen top box-like slide fitted in said casing for movement inwardly andoutwardly of the open end of the ill casing and for containing a packageof cigarettes, said slide having a skeleton back wall through which saidsection of the guide plate extends and including a transverse guide barslidably fitted in said guideway, and a hinged cover for opening andclosing the slide spring tensioned for closing movement and movable intosaid guideway under movement of the slide inwardly to open the same.

2. A cigarette case for a package of cigarettes comprising a casinghaving an open end, and a back wall, a guide plate fixed on the innerface of said back wall and having a section spaced forwardly of saidwall to provide therewith a guideway open at said end of the casing, anopen top box-like slide fitted in said casing for movement inwardly andoutwardly of the open end of the casing and for containing a package ofcigarettes, said slide having a skeleton back wall through which saidsection of the guide plate extends, and including a transverse guide barslidably fitted in said guideway, and a hinged cover for opening andclosing the slide spring tensioned for closing movement and movable intosaid guideway under movement of the slide inwardly to open the same,said plate having a camming edge slidably engaging said cover underinitial inward movement of the slide to pry said cover partially open.

ERSKINE K. BLUDWORTH.

